What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also referred to as car shipping or auto transport, is a service offered by vehicle shipping companies that involves collecting your automobile from one location & transporting it to another. This service is beneficial in various circumstances where you are unable to drive the car yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used vehicle online & need to transport it to another state, relocating & requiring cross-country vehicle shipping, or moving your automobile abroad when ferries are not available. Luckily, there are numerous auto transport services available to cater to your specific requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Transport Services
When selecting a vehicle transport service, the initial choice you need to make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car transport or shipping a vehicle to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection & drop-off points, often the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are used. While this option is typically more affordable, it requires more effort on your part to get the automobile home. Most individuals, however, opt for door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Vehicle transport services are generally divided into two categories: having someone drive your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport.
Have Someone Drive Your Automobile
Hiring someone to drive your vehicle to its destination is a straightforward solution for car shipping, whether it's across the country or to another state. The advantages of this method include lower costs, as trailers & extra vehicles are not required, & faster delivery due to the simplicity of the transport. However, there are some drawbacks to this method that lead some individuals to choose other types of vehicle transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your automobile during the journey, which can be significant when shipping a car across the country. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your vehicle while it is being driven. These concerns are particularly relevant for individuals buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the automobile arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Place Your Automobile On A Trailer
Placing your vehicle on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone drive it to its destination. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your automobile. You can choose between a single trailer for your car, which is more expensive but ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars, or a multi-car transporter that can carry several vehicles at once.
Open car shipping is the most affordable & common option offered by vehicle shipping companies. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to its destination. While all cars are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, making this option less suitable for highly valuable vehicles. Additionally, long journeys in open trailers pose a higher risk of damage & prolonged exposure to the elements.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple cars on a carrier that is enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during transport.
If you need to move your automobile overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas vehicle shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Transport A Vehicle?
The cost of transporting a vehicle varies depending on several factors, but on average, US auto transport companies charge around $2.92 per mile for journeys less than 200 miles, $0.93 for journeys between 200 & 500 miles, & $0.78 for journeys over 1,000 miles. However, these are just averages, & your vehicle transport may cost more or less depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to obtain vehicle shipping quotes from multiple companies, which is easily done through platforms like Shiply.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Vehicle Transport
Several factors can impact the cost of car shipping, including:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate vehicle delivery.
- International shipping: Transporting a car overseas is always more expensive due to the logistics involved & the distance traveled.
- Route: Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks can increase costs or require longer alternative routes.
- Shipping dates: Flexible timings can result in lower costs, while expedited shipping in strict timeframes typically costs more.
- Vehicle size: Larger vehicles like SUVs cost more to transport than sedans due to the need for bigger trailers.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may require extra equipment, increasing the cost of auto transport.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone drive your car is the cheapest option, while enclosed car shipping is the most expensive.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas with common routes offer cheaper car shipping, while rural or hard-to-access locations can increase costs.
- Auto transport insurance: Additional cargo insurance beyond the company's liability insurance is recommended & can affect the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality plays a role, with winter being the most expensive time to ship a vehicle due to weather-related delays.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
With numerous vehicle transport companies available, finding the right one can be overwhelming. Searching through Google or phone books can be time-consuming, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without a personalized quote.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply simplifies the process of finding a vehicle shipping service. By filling out a simple form with your automobile's make & model, pickup & delivery locations, & desired shipping dates, you can easily collect quotes from auto transport providers. Quotes start arriving in your Shiply inbox & email within minutes of posting your listing, allowing you to compare multiple options before making a decision.
Before selecting a quote, it's essential to ask the company questions about their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure vehicles during transport. Shiply's feedback & ratings system also allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, helping you make an informed decision.
Why People Often Move Cars To & From San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, located in Southern California, is a popular city for car shipping due to various reasons. Many individuals relocate to San Bernardino for job opportunities, as the city is home to several large employers in industries such as healthcare, education, & logistics. Additionally, San Bernardino's proximity to Los Angeles & other major cities in the region makes it an attractive location for those seeking a more affordable cost of living while still having access to urban amenities.
People also frequently ship cars from San Bernardino when relocating to other parts of the country for work or personal reasons. The city's diverse population & strong economic ties to other regions contribute to the demand for car shipping services to & from San Bernardino.
When searching for "car shipping san bernardino" or "san bernardino car shipping," it's crucial to find a reliable & experienced auto transport company that can safely & efficiently move your vehicle to or from the city. By using platforms like Shiply, you can easily compare quotes & services from multiple car shipping companies, ensuring that you find the best option for your specific needs & budget.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Car Shipping in San Bernardino
Time-Saving - Rather than filling out a quotation form each instance you desire an accurate cost from a business for transporting a vehicle, on our site you complete one quotation form and can then obtain estimates based on the information you supply from several companies. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have spent phoning businesses and completing forms.
Communication with these businesses is also feasible via our platform, allowing you to store all your San Bernardino car shipping details in a single location.
Price Comparison - Ultimately, the expense of the car shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in choosing which auto transport company to employ to transport your vehicle. The challenge is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average prices and rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite car transport quote without having to give information and fill in details. While this is understandable, it means that price comparison and obtaining a car transport quote isn't exactly a simple task.
Utilizing Shiply enables you to acquire genuine, final price estimates from car shipping businesses and compare them in one place, offering the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have and ultimately decide on the optimal company for you.
Budget-Friendly San Bernardino Car Shipping
Auto transport businesses on Shiply are usually able to provide their services at a lower cost than if you went directly to them. This is because they are often seeking to fill space on trips they are already making and have already invested the cost for. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York and needed to transport your car there, a company on Shiply may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, and they are just looking to ensure they are not wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, and pick-up/drop-off locations are suitable for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by utilizing our service.
Better for the Environment - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also more eco-friendly! In the above example, if your car didn't get on that multi-car transporter and instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire journey would be needed just for your vehicle.
Similarly, many car transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, which is not only costly for them but also for the environment as there are many people who could have used that transporter to move their cars in the opposite direction. Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are looking to fill their trailers on return journeys too, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Car for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to move your car and feel confident using them, then it's time to get your car ready for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Documents - It is crucial to ensure that any documents you may need are available at pick up or drop off, especially if you are selling your vehicle.
Cleaning - You should take care to remove all personal belongings from your vehicle prior to shipping, for the obvious reason that you don't want to risk them getting lost or damaged in transit. It is also highly recommended that you clean your vehicle before transport as this will allow you to determine its condition and notice any damages that may occur during delivery.
Running Condition - If the vehicle will be driven at any point during shipping or driven home from the drop-off location, then you should ensure that it is in running condition. This means ensuring that there is enough fluid, as well as checking battery charge and tire pressure levels. Again, this can also help you better assess the condition of the vehicle upon arrival.
Photographic Evidence - One very important thing to do when preparing your vehicle for the car delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photographs of all parts of the car. This provides you with evidence of the car's condition before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
What to Do After Delivery
Once the car shipping company you selected has completed their delivery, there are a few things you should do:
Check Vital Signs - Lights, brakes, and engines should all be checked immediately to ensure that the car is in the expected condition, as well as enable you to immediately raise concerns with the car delivery service should anything not be working as it should.
Exterior Condition - You can compare the exterior of the vehicle to the photos taken of it before to determine whether any extra damage has occurred. Shipping a car can, in rare cases, cause damage, and you want to be sure your car transport service has not done so.
Check Mileage - This is more relevant to car shipping services where the car is driven to the destination, but it can help to check the mileage to ensure that it matches up with the journey taken.
We would greatly appreciate it if you could also leave a review for the auto transport company you used through Shiply so that others can browse car shipping services with the same peace of mind.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answered some of the most asked questions about car shipping:
How much to ship a car? Car shipping prices can vary drastically depending on the circumstances, but on average a journey should cost you around $2.92 per mile if the journey is less than 200 miles, $0.93 if the journey is between 200 and 500 miles, and if the journey is over 1,000 miles, then this drops to $0.78.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car? Having someone drive your vehicle to its destination is the most affordable way to ship a car; however, if you need a trailer, then a multi-car transporter will be your best option with regard to the cheapest way to ship a car.
How do I pay for my auto transport? This is down to each individual auto transport company on Shiply and is something you should discuss with your chosen car delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most companies will be flexible with payment options, however.
Can I track my car transport online? Each car shipping company on Shiply has different ways of operating, but many offer the ability to track your car shipment, with some even able to provide personal updates. If you require tracking, you should message individual car transport companies to confirm that this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup and delivery? In most cases, the car shipping company will require you to be in attendance for the pickup and delivery of the vehicle. This is because there are likely to be release forms that you need to sign, as well as handing over the car keys.
Can I keep items in my vehicle during my car shipment? Most car transport companies will be fine with you keeping some personal items in the vehicle when it is transported. However, there are two important things to remember: 1. The weight of the items may affect the price of the vehicle shipment, and 2. Any items in the vehicle will not be covered by insurance for the transport of the car itself.
How much gas should I have in my vehicle during transit? Generally, you should aim to have around a quarter of your tank full. This allows for easy loading and unloading of the vehicle but will not add too much extra weight to the vehicle.
Can I ship my vehicle if it isn't running? You can ship your vehicle if it isn't in running condition; however, this will be more expensive as specialist equipment is required to load and unload the vehicle.
Can I ship a modified vehicle? Almost any type of vehicle is able to be shipped on Shiply, with hundreds of transport providers available to bid on your job there will always be someone that is up for the job and has the right equipment to safely carry it out.
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